Spritz cookies are a classic Christmas cookie that everyone will love! These buttery cookies are easy to make, and fun to decorate. Make a big batch of this spritz cookie recipe for a holiday party, simple Christmas gifts, or just to decorate and enjoy with the family.
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Best Spritz Cookies
These classic Spritz cookies are a holiday favorite! They’re so much fun to make for Christmas, and really easy too.
The simple buttery flavor is so delicious, and luckily this recipe makes a lot, because they are hard to stop eating! Make a batch, press into fun shapes, and decorate to your heart’s desire. Then add them to the Christmas dessert table, bring them to a holiday party, or hand them out as gifts.
Why You’ll Love this Christmas Cookie Recipe:
- CLASSIC COOKIES: This spritz cookie recipe is a holiday classic. This is a recipe you can make year after year to keep tradition alive.
- SIMPLY DELICIOUS: These crisp, buttery cookies are so simple and yet so delicious! Something about this flavor is hard to resist.
- BIG BATCH: It’s easy to make a big batch of these Christmas cookies for holiday parties, gifts, or the dessert table.
Be sure to try these Chocolate Spritz Cookies, or Easter Spritz cookies for Spring!
What are spritz cookies?
Spritz cookies come from a classic German Christmas cookie, called Spritzgeback. It’s a simple dough made of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, that is shaped into various forms with a cookie press. These little cookies are buttery and crisp!
How to Make Spritz Cookies
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Preheat oven while you make the cookies.
- Add ingredients to a stand mixer, and combine to make the dough.
- Press dough through a cookie press (use specific instructions included with your press) to shape.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet, and decorate.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Let them cool, then serve and enjoy!
This OXO cookie press is affordable and easy to use!
If you don’t have a cookie press, you can roll out the dough (to about ½ inch) and use cookie cutters.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yes, you can freeze these! Place parchment paper between layers of cookies in freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also freeze the dough, then shape and bake later.
All the Holiday Cookies
25+ Favorite Christmas Cookies
Baking and Christmas go hand in hand. See our guide for our fave recipes + tips and tricks for perfect cookies.
See GuideThese are the best spritz cookies for Christmas. They’re so festive and fun to bake, and the kids will love helping you make these!
Tips!
- Do not line the baking sheets. These cookies bake best directly on the pan.
- Don’t over-mix the dough. Mix ingredients just until fully incorporated.
- Your cookie press will have specific instructions on how to use it.
- The almond extract adds great flavor, but you can substitute it with more vanilla extract if needed. You could also use another flavored extract.
This spritz cookie recipe makes A LOT of cookies, which makes them great for holiday parties. They also make good gifts, since you can make them ahead of time, freeze them, pile them into cookie tins, then hand them out for Christmas.
How can I decorate spritz cookies?
Sanding sugars are one of my favorite things to use to decorate spritz cookies. They’re simple, colorful, and look really beautiful. You could also use sprinkles, icing, or a dusting of powdered sugar/cinnamon/cocoa.
Can I use food coloring to color the cookie dough?
Yes, but be sure to use gel food coloring. Liquid food coloring will mess with the consistency of the dough and make it too thin. You’ll only need a drop or two to color the dough, so use sparingly.
More Easy Cookie Recipes We Love
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Chocolate Vanilla Pinwheel Cookies
- Christmas Cowboy Cookies
- Linzer Cookies
- Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Tie-Dye Butter Cookies
Make these Spritz cookies for Christmas, or for any other holiday. They’re a classic cookie that everyone will love, they’re easy to make, and they’re delicious!
More Christmas Dessert Recipes to Try:
- Classic Pound Cake
- Mint Chocolate Swiss Roll
- Italian Cream Cake
- Biscoff Cheesecake
- Gingerbread Cupcakes
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Spritz Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Stand Mixer
- Cookie Press
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter 226 grams, room temperature (2 sticks)
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar 133 grams
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams
- 3 large egg yolks 42 grams, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 grams
- ½ teaspoon almond extract 2 grams
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour 300 grams
- Sprinkles and sanding sugars optional, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Set aside baking sheets. Do not use parchment paper – bake the cookies directly on the baking sheets.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and salt together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.1 cup unsalted butter, ⅔ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the egg yolks, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.3 large egg yolks
- Add the vanilla and almond extracts, beating just until incorporated.½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Turn off the mixer and add the flour. With the mixer on low speed, fold in the flour just until all flour has been incorporated.2½ cups all-purpose flour
- Follow the directions for your cookie press to form the cookies onto the baking sheets. Decorate with sprinkles and sugars, if desired.Sprinkles and sanding sugars
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack to completely cool.
Becky’s Tips
- Do not line the baking sheets. These cookies bake best directly on the pan.
- Don’t over-mix the dough. Mix ingredients just until fully incorporated.
- Your cookie press will have specific instructions on how to use it.
- The almond extract adds great flavor, but you can substitute it with more vanilla extract if needed. You could also use another flavored extract.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can’t wait to try these – I have the darndest time with cookie presses though – i can never get the cookies to come out! lol
I wish you luck, Deanna!